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Overview
For a week the country comes to you: badge, booth, meeting room, a market explained in slide decks. It is a short drive from all of that to a corner of a public park where parents match-make for their grown children, and an hour by rail to a pharmacy that opened in 1874 and now runs its consultations with software in the loop. This plan starts the day after your closing session, keeps you in the same room all three nights, and ends at the airport. Nothing is scheduled after dinner. You'll go home able to say what the market you spent a week pitching to does on an ordinary weekday.
— LyrikTrip travel designers
Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your preferred dates and your flight home, and we build these three days around both. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. Day two runs on a fixed pair of trains, so we lock your outbound and your latest return service before anything is charged.
Why you'll love this trip
- Two cities, no hotel change. Wukang Road, a Huangpu commuter ferry, a Hangzhou technology centre and an 1874 pharmacy, with an English-speaking guide throughout.
- 3 days from a park matchmaking corner to an AI-assisted tongue reading. See the everyday China.
- Spend the afternoon after your last session on two hours in a Shanghai art space instead of an airport lounge: one building, no agenda, nobody expecting anything of you.
- Ride an hour of high-speed rail to Hangzhou and be back in your own room the same evening, having watched the same trick land twice in one day: an old street and an old shopfront, both running new contents.
- Stay in the same bed for all three nights: no packing, no hotel change, and every scheduled day ends before your inbox does.
- Cross the Huangpu on the ferry the city takes to work, standing on deck with commuters and their scooters, not on a sightseeing boat.
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Shanghai · Day 1 - Day 3
· The badge comes off
Your badge comes off before anything else does. This afternoon is left short on purpose.
· Two old addresses
One hour of rail each way, and your own room again tonight. Two old addresses, both running new contents.
· Street level, then water
A morning under plane trees, thirty minutes on the river, then the airport. Shanghai gets the last word at street level.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Mercure Shanghai Bund Yu Garden
Mercure Shanghai Bund Yu Garden, in Huangpu District, is steps from Yu Garden, the Bund and Metro Lines 10 & 8.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Shanghai
Rezen Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui
Rezen Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui, in Pudong near the New International Expo Centre and Metro Lines 9 & 2.
Shanghai
The PuXuan Hotel and Spa Shanghai Bund
The PuXuan Hotel and Spa: on Beijing East Road with stunning Bund views, walking distance to Nanjing Road and Lujiazui.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Mercure Shanghai Bund Yu Garden
Mercure Shanghai Bund Yu Garden, in Huangpu District, is steps from Yu Garden, the Bund and Metro Lines 10 & 8.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Shanghai
Rezen Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui
Rezen Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui, in Pudong near the New International Expo Centre and Metro Lines 9 & 2.
Shanghai
The PuXuan Hotel and Spa Shanghai Bund
The PuXuan Hotel and Spa: on Beijing East Road with stunning Bund views, walking distance to Nanjing Road and Lujiazui.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Mercure Shanghai Bund Yu Garden
Mercure Shanghai Bund Yu Garden, in Huangpu District, is steps from Yu Garden, the Bund and Metro Lines 10 & 8.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Shanghai
Rezen Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui
Rezen Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui, in Pudong near the New International Expo Centre and Metro Lines 9 & 2.
Shanghai
The PuXuan Hotel and Spa Shanghai Bund
The PuXuan Hotel and Spa: on Beijing East Road with stunning Bund views, walking distance to Nanjing Road and Lujiazui.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring on all three days: pickup at your venue or hotel on day one, station transfers in both cities and the local car in Hangzhou on day two, airport drop-off on day three
- Inter-city railBoth high-speed rail legs on day two, Shanghai to Hangzhou in the morning and back the same evening; your quote states the class booked for your order
- GuideLicensed English-speaking guide on all three days, including the Hangzhou day
- Day one, ShanghaiShanghai art space, about 120 minutes, named in your written confirmation; People's Park marriage market, about 60 minutes
- Day two, HangzhouWensan Future Technology Centre, about 120 minutes; Huqingyutang AI-assisted consultation, about 90 minutes
- Day three, ShanghaiFormer French Concession and Wukang Road walk, about 120 minutes; Huangpu River ferry crossing, about 30 minutes
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance
Not Included
- FlightsYour flight home, and everything before day one: your fair-period hotel, transfers and arrangements remain your own
- HotelThe two nights of the plan window, see Hotels above; booking them through us is an add-on, quoted separately
- MealsNo meal is arranged on any of the three days. Breakfast is provided by your hotel, and your hotel is not included in this price; lunches and dinners are recommended and booked by your guide, at your own expense.
- Optional add-onsQuoted separately when you choose them; nothing optional is added by default
- PersonalVisas, gratuities and personal spending
Special Notes
A few things on this route follow your fair calendar rather than ours. Here they are, told straight.
- Start day — Day one is the day after your closing session, and there is no arrival day. If your sessions run a day longer than planned, day one moves with them.
- People's Park — we confirm this gathering is on for your dates before you pay. If it is not, one of two swaps runs and your quote says which: days one and three change places, or Yu Garden takes that slot, at no change in price.
- Day-two trains — This corridor is busy during the fair. Your outbound service and your latest return service are both locked before your order is taken, and both are written into your confirmation.
- The art space — the space for your departure is named in your written confirmation before you pay.
- Departures — This route is built around the November fair, so departures follow that window. Tell us your fair dates first and we build the three days off the back of them.
- Confirmation and changes — Your quote states in writing the confirmation deadline for your order and the change and refund conditions for your dates. No order is taken without them in writing.
Is Three Days Your Length?
Only two days?
Only two days?
Each day stands on its own, so we cut days, not contents: tell us your flight home and we build backward from it.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
- Start
- Day one starts at your venue or hotel the day after your closing session; there is no arrival day.
- Ports
- Starts and ends in Shanghai; airport drop-off included on the last day
- Hotels
- Not included in this price: you stay on in your fair-rate room. We can quote the two nights separately if you want them.
- Rail
- Day two only: two legs, about an hour of running time each way, both in the price
- Visas
- Most guests on this line are already in China. Before any payment we check your entry date, your fair days and these three days against your permitted window
- Language
- English-speaking licensed guide throughout
- Payment
- A 10% deposit (minimum $399) secures your dates; the balance is due 14 days before departure
- Flexibility
- Days stand alone and the start day follows your fair; the confirmation deadline and the change and refund terms for your dates are listed in writing with your quote
- Evenings
- Nothing is scheduled after dinner on any of the three days
Your Private Concierge Service
Jenny
China Private Travel Route Consultant
“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”
Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
Correct, and intentionally so. You have spent a week looking at that skyline through office glass and from the car. This plan spends its three days on the parts of the city your week did not show you: a park, a walking neighbourhood, a commuter ferry and one hour of rail to Hangzhou.
Really: about an hour of running time each way, with your guide in the seat beside you and a car at both ends. We lock your outbound service and your latest return service before we take your order, so the day has margin built into it rather than added on the platform. Day two has no evening commitment on the other end, so a late train costs you nothing but a later dinner.
No, it is by design. You already have a room at your fair rate, and it is usually better value than anything we would rebook you into for two nights. So the plan never moves you: same bed for three nights, no packing. If you would rather hand the two nights to us, say so and we will quote them separately, with the hotel named in writing.
Yes. Every scheduled day ends before dinner, including the Hangzhou day, and your guide books dinner only if you want it. Nothing on this route runs at night.
Usually yes, and we check before you pay. The UK, most of Europe and Canada enter visa-free for days; so do Australia and New Zealand. We confirm that your entry date, your fair days and these three days all fit inside that window. The current policy runs to December 31, 2026. If you hold a Chinese visa, business or tourist, these days simply count within your permitted stay. If you entered visa-free under the 10-day transit policy, your whole stay must fit that window and your onward flight must leave for a third country or region: we verify both from your tickets before we take the order, and if it does not fit we say so instead of selling.
